Ricky Lee breaks silence over 'hawi' incident with Pia Wurtzbach by security guard

MANILA, Philippines — National artist Ricky Lee broke his silence after being pushed away by a guard when Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach approached him at the recent Manila International Book Fair at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

In a report by PEP, Ricky said that it doesn't need that the person should be a senior citizen or a National Artist for the guard to respect who the one Pia stopped for and greeted.

“Siguro 'yung guwardiya could have been more gracious. Hindi ko iisipin ang sarili ko. Iisipin ko 'yung ibang tao 'yan," he said.

“Hindi kinakailangan na senior or hindi kinakailangang National Artist. Pero kung may taong nilapitan din ni Pia, kinamayan pa ni Pia, respetuhin niya 'yung tao at si Pia, kasi kilala ni Pia," he added.

Ricky said that the he only realized the loss of respect from the guard when he watched the video that is now viral on social media.

“Pero hindi niya kailangang hawiin kasi si Pia mismo ang lumapit at nakipag-usap. So, kawalang respeto 'yon hindi lang sa akin kundi kay Pia. Hindi in-acknowledge ng guard na in-acknowledge ako ni Pia," he said.

“I think medyo naging rude 'yung guwardiya. Again, ulitin ko, hindi dahil senior citizen, hindi dahil National Artist. I think maski na sinong tao, maski na bata o estudyante, kung in-acknowledge ni Pia, kinausap at pinasalamatan, huwag niyang itaboy. 'Yun ang punto ko.

"Pero na-realize ko lang 'yan nang pinanood ko 'yung video kasi ang daming mga kaibigan na ‘O, Ricky, bakit ganoon?’ So, pinanood ko, nakita ko, 'Ay, oo nga.' Hindi ko napansin pero humarang nga siya sa gitna namin ni Pia. Maging makatao sana lalo na sa isang book fair. Hindi lang siya kung saan, book fair siya."

After the incident, Ricky and Pia had lunch and